Portable Food and Beverage Heating Device

ABSTRACT

A portable food and beverage heating device including an elongated heating element designed to be immersed in a substance and to radiate heat to increase the temperature of the substance. The device further including a removable cap designed to act as an intermediary between a power supply and the elongated heating element, such that in one embodiment the heating element can only receive power from the power supply when the removable cap is secured to a second end of a housing. Additionally, the device includes several safety features like a non-conductive heat-resistant tip, a burn guard, a non-conductive fastener, and optional foldability or removability of the heating element all of which are designed to safeguard against personal injury to a user, or damage to a container holding the substance being heated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/518,860 filed on Jun. 13, 2017. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the preparation of food and drink. Morespecifically, the present invention provides a portable device forheating food and beverages.

In order to provide the most enjoyable dining experience many types offoods and drink are intended to be served hot. However, if the food orbeverage cools to an ambient temperature, the dining experience will bedegraded. Most people will wish to reheat the food and drink itemsbefore consuming them, but reheating is not always an option. Forexample, if the individual is on the road in car, access to a microwaveor stove is unlikely. Although some portable heating utensils areavailable many are required to be plugged in via a cord, which is notconvenient if a power source is not readily available. This isespecially inconvenient when camping or hiking, or even watching asporting event at an outdoor venue. Additionally, an attached cord takesup space when not in use and can become a nuisance. Accordingly, aportable food and beverage device that is battery-operated and easilystorable is desired.

Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to portabledevice for heating food and beverages. These include devices that havebeen patented and published in patent application publications. Thesedevices generally relate to portable immersible heaters. However, thesedevices have several known drawbacks. For example, these known artdevices do not include a means of safe guarding the container from beingdamaged by the heating element, or safe guarding the user fromaccidentally burning themselves on the heating element.

The present invention differs from the known art in that the presentinvention comprises a non-conductive tip affixed to the end of theheating element, or optionally includes a non-conductive heat-resistantburn guard coiled around the heating element. Additionally, the presentinvention differs from the known art in that the heating element isengaged by affixing the cap to the housing.

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted thatthe present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theknown art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to existing portable device for heating food andbeverages. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfillsthese needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofportable devices for heating food and beverages now present in the knownart, the present invention provides a new portable device for heatingfood and beverages wherein the same can be utilized for providingconvenience for the user when reheating food or beverages when in anenvironment without readily accessible electrical power.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved portable device for heating food and beverages that has all ofthe advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an elongatedheating element configured to be immersed in a substance and to radiateheat to increase the temperature of the substance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an elongatedheating element disposed on a first end of a housing extending outwardfrom the first end of the housing to a non-conductive heat-resistanttip.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anon-conductive heat-resistant tip configured to prevent the elongatedheating element from coming into direct contact with the surface of acontainer holding the substance being heated.

A further object of the present invention to provide a power supplyconfigured to power the elongated heating element disposed in a secondend of the housing that is operably connected to the elongated heatingelement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable caphaving an open end, an open interior volume therein, and a closed end,configured to be securely attached to either the first end or the secondend of the housing.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a fastenerdisposed on the exterior of the housing configured to removably securethe housing to a container holding a substance, such that the elongatedheating element is immersed in the substance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a burn guardmade from non-conductive heat resistant material coiled around theelongated heating element such that the burn guard protects a user fromburning themselves on the elongated heating element, while leaving oneor more openings for the elongated heating element to still be exposedto the substance being heated.

Yet still another object of an embodiment of the present invention is toprovide a portable food and beverage heating device, wherein theremovable cap is configured to be an intermediary between the powersupply and the elongated heating element, such that the elongatedheating element can only receive power from the power supply when theremovable cap is secured to the second end of the housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable devicefor heating food and beverages that may be readily fabricated frommaterials that permit relative economy and are commensurate withdurability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable food andbeverage heating device, with cap connected to the second end of thehousing.

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view along line 1B of an embodiment of aportable food and beverage heating device, with cap connected to thesecond end of the housing.

FIG. 1C shows a close-up view of the connection between the cap and thehousing of an embodiment of a portable food and beverage heating device,with cap connected to the second end of the housing.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable food andbeverage heating device, with cap connected to the first end of thehousing.

FIG. 2B shows a disassembled view of an embodiment of a portable foodand beverage heating device.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the housing and elongated heatedelement of an embodiment of a portable food and beverage heating device,where the elongated heating element is being folded toward a groove inthe housing.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable food andbeverage heating device in use heating a beverage in a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the portable food and beverage heating device. For thepurposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the presentinvention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for aportable food and beverage heating device. The figures are intended forrepresentative purposes only and should not be considered to be limitingin any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, there is shown a perspective view,a cross-sectional view along line 1B, and a close-up view of theconnection between the cap and the housing of an embodiment of aportable food and beverage heating device, with cap connected to thesecond end of the housing, respectively. The portable food and beverageheating device 1000, comprises an elongated heating element 200configured to be immersed in a substance and to radiate heat to increasethe temperature of the substance such that the temperature increaseprovided by the elongated heating element 200 is proportional to theamount of direct exposure that the surface-area of the elongated heatingelement 200 has with the substance being heated.

In the illustrated embodiment the elongated heating element 200 isdisposed on a first end 110 of a housing 100, such that the elongatedheating element 200 extends outward from the first end 110 of thehousing 100 to a non-conductive heat-resistant tip 250. Morespecifically, the first end 110 of the housing includes an aperture 150configured to receive and removably secure a first end 210 of theelongated heating element 200, such that the elongated heated element200 can be installed in the aperture 150 when needed for active use anduninstalled and stored away when the portable food and beverage heatingdevice 1000 is inactive.

In one embodiment a power supply 300 is disposed in the housing 100 suchthat the power supply 300 is operably connected to the elongated heatingelement 200. Additionally, the power supply 300 is rechargeable via acharge port 170 configured to recharge the power supply 300 through awired connection to an electrical outlet or power bank. In anotherembodiment (shown in FIG. 1A), an exterior wire 171 extends from thehousing, wherein a port 172 disposed on a distal end thereof isconfigured to connect to an external power supply, such as a power bank.The exterior wire 171 is operably connected to the elongated heatingelement 200 and can serve as the primary power source or in alternateembodiments, the external wire 171 serves to power a power supplydisposed within the housing, such as a battery.

In the illustrated embodiment, a removable cap 500 having an open end510 (most clearly seen in FIG. 2B), an open interior volume 530 therein,and a closed end 520 is configured to be securely attached to either thefirst end 110 or the second end 120 of the housing 100. In theillustrated embodiment, the removable cap 500 is further configured toact as an intermediary connection between the power supply 300 and theelongated heating element 200, such that the elongated heating element200 can only receive power from the power supply 300 secured to thesecond end 120 of the housing 100.

In this embodiment the removable cap 500 acting as intermediary isequivalent to a power switch for the elongated heating element 200. Tocreate this power switch functionality a first sensor 160 is embedded inthe outer surface of the housing 100 such that it forms a ring aroundthe housing 100 while a second sensor 560 is similarly embedded alongthe inner surface of the removeable cap 500 such that it forms a ringaround the removable cap 500. When the second end 120 of the housing 100is inserted through the open first end 510 and into the open interiorvolume 530, the two sensors 160, 560 come into physical contact with oneanother to close the switch and allow the elongated heating element 200to connect to the power supply 300. The power switch functionality ofthe removable cap 500 provides the added safety benefit of ensuring thatthe elongated heating element 200 can never continue to radiate heat andburn through the removable cap 500 when attached to the first end 110 ofthe housing 100. Thereby avoiding personal injury or damage to propertydue to accidentally powering on the portable food and beverage heatingdevice 1000 when not in active use. In the illustrated embodiment, theelongated heating element 200 is alternatively activated by an on andoff switch 310 positioned on the side of the housing.

In the illustrated embodiment, a temperature sensor 260 is disposed onthe elongated heating element 200 and is configured to detect thetemperature of the substance the elongated heating element is immersedin. The temperature sensor 260 is operably connected to the power supplysuch that when the temperature sensor 260 detects a thresholdtemperature the power supply is automatically turned off. The detectionof a threshold temperature by the temperature sensor 260 is configuredto prevent the substance from burning or the overcooking of food orvaporizing if the substance is a liquid, such as coffee, milk, hotchocolate, and the like. The automatic turn off further minimizesunnecessary use of energy from the power supply.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, there are shown a perspective view ofan embodiment of a portable food and beverage heating device, with capconnected to the first end of the housing, and a disassembled view of anembodiment of a portable food and beverage heating device, respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment the housing 100 and removable cap 500portions of the portable food and beverage heating device 1000 are sizedand proportioned to be in the form of a pen and a corresponding pencover, respectively. Here, the open interior volume 530 of the removablecap 500 is shaped and proportioned to encapsulate the entirety of theelongated heating element 200 when attached to the first end 120 of thehousing 100. This embodiment further includes a removable burn guard 600made from non-conductive heat resistant material coiled around theelongated heating element such that the removable burn guard 600protects a user from burning themselves on the elongated heating element200, while leaving one or more openings 610 (most clearly seen in FIG.1A) for the elongated heating element 200 to still be exposed to thesubstance being heated. Additionally, the elongated heating element 200is removably attached to the first end 110 of the housing, such thatwhen not in use the elongated heating element 200 can be detached, orwhen malfunctioning the elongated heating element 200 can be more easilyreplaced with a substitute part.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2B, a protrusion 410 is disposedon an exterior of the housing 100, aligned with a fastener 400 extendingfrom the housing 100. The protrusion 410 is configured to angle theportable food and beverage heating device away from a sidewall of acontainer towards center thereof, as seen in FIG. 4. In the illustratedembodiment, the protrusion 410 comprises a pair of curved portions. Inalternate embodiments, the protrusion 410 is any shape suitable to anglethe portable food and beverage heating device away from the sidewall ofthe container. In other embodiments the protrusion is affixed to thefastener and performs the same function. In this way, the heatingprocess is more efficient as the heat is being generated from the centerof the substance outward.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of thehousing and elongated heated element of an embodiment of a portable foodand beverage heating device, where the elongated heating element isbeing folded toward a groove in the housing. In one embodiment a groove130 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 100 and isconfigured to receive the elongated heating element 200 therein. Theelongated heating element 200 is hingedly connected to the first end 110of the housing via a hinge 115, such that the elongated heating element200 can be folded down into the groove 130 disposed on the outer surfaceof the housing 100. The foldability of the elongated heating elementfurther enhances the portability of the overall device.

Furthermore, like the heat-resistant tip 250, the burn guard 600, andthe removable cap 600, the foldable function provides an additionalsafeguard against personal injury or property damage due to radiation ofthe elongated heating element 200.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of anembodiment of a portable food and beverage heating device in use heatinga beverage in a container. The illustrated embodiment includes afastener 400 disposed on the exterior of the housing 100 that isconfigured to removably secure the housing 100 to a container 910holding a substance 900, such that the elongated heating element 200 isimmersed in the substance 900 while the removable cap 500 is secured tothe second end 120 of the housing 100. In one embodiment the fastener400 is a clip made from non-conductive heat resistant material to ensurethat heat generated by the elongated heating element does not transmitthrough the fastener 400 to burn or otherwise damage the container 910.

In the illustrated embodiment, in operation an exterior face of theprotrusion 410, facing the fastener 400, applies force against thecontainer such that the housing 100 and elongated heating element 200are angled away from a side of the container and towards a centerthereof. The elongated heating element 200 can be used in a folded,intermediate position, between an aligned position with the housing andthe folded stored position, in order to extend further into the centerof the container for more efficient heating. Similarly, thenon-conductive heat-resistant tip 250 is configured to prevent theelongated heating element 100 from coming into direct contact with thesurface of the container 910 holding the substance being heated.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A portable food and beverage heating device, comprising: anelongated heating element configured to be immersed in a substance andto radiate heat to increase the temperature of the substance is disposedon a first end of a housing, such that the elongated heating elementextends outward from the first end of the housing to a non-conductiveheat-resistant tip; wherein the non-conductive heat-resistant tip isconfigured to prevent the elongated heating element from coming intodirect contact with the surface of a container holding the substancebeing heated; a power supply configured to power the elongated heatingelement is disposed in a second end of the housing and is operablyconnected to the elongated heating element; a fastener disposed on theexterior of the housing is configured to removably secure the housing toa container holding the substance, such that the elongated heatingelement is immersed in the substance; a removable cap having an openend, an open interior volume therein, and a closed end is configured tobe securely attached to either the first end or the second end of thehousing, such that the open interior volume of the removable cap isshaped and proportioned to encapsulate the elongated heating elementwhen attached to the first end of the housing.
 2. The portable food andbeverage heating device of claim 1, wherein the temperature increaseprovided by the elongated heating element is proportional to the amountof direct exposure the surface area of the elongated heating element haswith the substance being heated.
 3. The portable food and beverageheating device of claim 2, wherein a burn guard made from non-conductiveheat resistant material is coiled around the elongated heating elementsuch that the burn guard protects a user from burning themselves on theelongated heating element, while leaving one or more openings for theelongated heating element to still be exposed to the substance beingheated.
 4. The portable food and beverage heating device of claim 1,wherein a groove disposed on outer surface of the housing is configuredto receive the elongated heating element therein.
 5. The portable foodand beverage heating device of claim 4, wherein the elongated heatingelement is hingedly connected to the first end of the housing via ahinge, such that the elongated heating element can be folded down intothe groove disposed on outer surface of the housing.
 6. The portablefood and beverage heating device of claim 5, wherein the elongatedheating element is disposed between a folded position within the housingand a position linearly aligned with the housing, when immersed in thesubstance and radiating heat.
 7. The portable food and beverage heatingdevice of claim 1, wherein the elongated heating element is removablyattached to the first end of the housing, such that when not in use theelongated heating element can be detached, or when malfunctioning theelongated heating element can be replaced.
 8. The portable food andbeverage heating device of claim 1, wherein the power supply isrechargeable via an electrical outlet or a power bank.
 9. The portablefood and beverage heating device of claim 1, further comprising anexterior wire extending from the housing configured to operably connectto a secondary power supply.
 10. The portable food and beverage heatingdevice of claim 1, wherein the removable cap is configured to be anintermediary link between the power supply and the elongated heatingelement, such that the elongated heating element can only receive powerfrom the power supply when the removable cap is secured to the secondend of the housing.
 11. The portable food and beverage heating device ofclaim 1, wherein the fastener is a clip made from non-conductive heatresistant material.
 12. The portable food and beverage heating device ofclaim 1, wherein the housing and removable cap portions of the portablefood and beverage heating device are sized and proportioned to be in theform of a pen and a corresponding pen cover, respectively.
 13. Theportable food and beverage heating device of claim 1, wherein theremovable cap portion is sized and proportioned to encapsulate theentirety of the elongated heating element.
 14. The portable food andbeverage heating device of claim 1, wherein a first sensor is embeddedin the outer surface of the housing such that it forms a ring around thesecond end of the housing.
 15. The portable food and beverage heatingdevice of claim 12, wherein a second sensor is embedded along the innersurface of the removeable cap such that it forms a ring around the openend of the removable cap.
 16. The portable food and beverage heatingdevice of claim 1, wherein the second end of the housing is insertedthrough the open first end and into the open interior volume, the firstsensor and second sensor come into physical contact with one another toclose the switch and allow the elongated heating element to connect tothe power supply.
 17. The portable food and beverage heating device ofclaim 1, further comprising a protrusion disposed on the housingconfigured to angle the housing aligned with the elongated heatingelement away from a distal end of the fastener.